Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

OVER ONE HUNDRED
DIE IN EXPLOSION
nBCOND FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
AT BLUEFIELD.
Great Volumes of Fire and Smoke
B1own Out by Concussion, Then
Sucked in Again.
Blaefield, W. Va.. Jan. 12.-An
explosion today in the mines of the
Lik Branch colliery snuffed out more
than 100 lives. In these same mines
two weeks ago today 50 miners were
killed by a similar explosion.
In the quiet of the early morning
there came like the sound of thunder
a mighty rumbling in the bowels of
th-e earth, which reverberated along
the lines of corridors and air pas
sages. Above the tons of earth and
stone that lay between the workings
and the mountain's crown giant trees
quivered from the great .concussion
and from the mine mouth the forces
of earth set free belched forth a cloud
of flame, soot, dust and debris, heavy
timbers, broken mine ears, and even
a massive motor used to haul the
heavily laden ears from the depths.
Scarcely had the detonation died
away before a throng of terrorized
women and children, their feet sped
by anxiety and dread, rushed to the
mine's mouth and implored those
there to allow them to .aid in the ef
fort to save their loved ones who
might still be alive within.
Mine Foreman Bowers, who was
near the entrance, was blown from
his: feet, but managed -to crawl out
safely, as did also Robert Smith, a
miner. With the foreman was a nin
ar named Holiday and he. too, "as
blown over. A rescue party, organiz
ed on the moment, rushed into the
jaws of the smoking mine and tried
to rescue him. They were .driven
back by the deadly fumes of the af
ter-gases and were compelled to leave
him to his fate.
A train was rushed from this city
4o the scene of the disaster, some 25
miles away, carrying bratticing and
other material to be used in the work
*f exploration and rescue.
There were supposed to be 60 or 80
men in the section of the mine affect
e d. The debris from the explosion of
,*wo weeks ago had not been cleared
away and 20. men were engaged in
C' this work. Nineteen contract miners
'with their crews were at work in a
new .entry, and it is feared that all
these men were lost.
The explosion was in a different
part of the mine from that of two
eeBks ago..* Since that catastrophe
- the mine has been inspected by gov
ernent officials and by Fde most ex
perieneed mine experts a. id all 'had
expressed the opinion that it was
safe.
No Bodies Recovered.
None of the bodies have been re
covered. It is expected that a part of
-the mine in which eight men were at~
work will be reached before morning.
.One reseue party came in sight of
2six bodies, but was forced back. The
latest estimate of the nmber of men:
entombed is more than 100. That all
of them are. dead there can be no]
doubt. T.he fire in the mine and the:
deadly gases, to say nothing of the
awful force of the explosion, preclude
any chance of rescuing any of the]
men alive.
The main entry of the mine is four]
miles long, running from one side of
the mountain to the other. Debris
was blown from both entries, which
gives some idea of the tremendous
f)rce of the explosion. It is reason
ably certain that all of the bodies
will never be' recovered. Some of
them were blown to pieces and others
incinerated, no doubt. The fans
which furnish the fresh air for the
werkings, as in the former explosion,
were not disabled and are forcing
fresh air in the mines.
Two brothers named Surratt of
Speedwell, Va., who went to the mine
at the time of the ->t'her explosion
through curionsity, accepted posi
tions, and both are in the mine.
*State Mine Inspector Phillips and
Tineholsen are at the mine and are
directing the work of rescue. Crews
have been formed and are venturing
in as far as the air is pure enough
to breathe in their efforts to reach
those entombed.
Bystanders at the time of the ex
plesion say that immense elIouds off
soot and smoke gushed from the mine
almost simultaneously with the deto
nation and immediately were sueked ]
beck in enormous volumes into the
mine.
On the Tag river side, four miles j.
from the main entrance, the smoke1
and fla.me gushed from the entry,
burning the twigs and small limbs
from trees that grew near.
The damage to the mine can not be
estimated.
The explosion was the most terrific*
that has ever occurred in this region. 1
In 1884 at the South West Virginiah
Imprmemt companv's mines 360
were killed in an explosion. Today's eu
horror is the most disastrous that I
has occurred since.
The mine is owned by the Pocahon- si
tas Clonsolidated Collieries company. -e
R
BONAPARTE DENIES G
TIMAAN'S AVOWAL. o
Says He Knew Nothing of Senator's
Desire For Lands.-Dealt With It
Latter as Public Officer. <
f<
Washington, Jan. 12.-Attorney i
General Bonaparte tonight issued a
statement replying to that part of the t
speech of Senator Tillman, delivered
yesterday, in which he declared the ?
resolution in regard to the Oregon 1
Land grants, introduced by him in the C
senate on January 31, 1908, had been i
prepared by the attorney general and ey
hat his "interest in the matter had 't
been first aroused by a desire to pur- T
chase some of -the timber land.' Mr. E
Bonaparte also replies to Senator T
Tillman's remark made in the senate .
ast February that he "had not in
bught any land anywheire in tlhe,
West or undertaken to buy any." tl
Mr. Bonaparte sets forth that suits 0
against those holding the Oregon 0r
lands involved in the case have been a
instituted, a fact that could have ai
been ascertained by any one upon in
guiry of his department any time
within the past four months. Mr.
T1ilman had intimat1d that no steps er
had been taken, despite the resolu
tion passed.
The attorney general disputes the r
enator's statement that the latter b
had informed him in .their conversa- in
bion that it was the senator's wish to
quire some of the lands. Mr. Bon
aparte sets forth that he did not
know Senator Tillman had any per
onal interest in the matter. Saysl
Kr. Bonaparte:
Mr. Bonaparte's Words. R
"He never told me a word of any
aonneetion on his part with an ar
rangement to aequire some part of
bhese lands, nor that he intended, ex- ar
peted or even desired, at ,that time, I be
bo make any such purchases. As stat- se
ed by him, his reason for maldng sa
these inquiries was that he might
better discharge his public duties; pa
and I was totally ignorant until II b
saw ithe documents transmitted byl ty
bthe president to Senator Hale that S.
Senator Tillman, at the time of his Si:
onversation, with me, had any p.ri- th
rate interest, whebber aetual or in ex- th
ectation, in connection with the sub- or
jet of our conversation. I gave him ar
a full statement of the information of
wtich had been colleed by the de- in
'artment as the result of a protract- ar
ed investigation made by Messrs. de
ownsend & MeBlair as special coun- i
sel, and which had continued during ist
i considerable part of the preceding th
ear. I told him also that we deem- p,
ad it advisable to secure congression- in
il action in the form of a resolation to
ampowering the attor'ney general to e
laim a forfeiture of these lands; and
bhat I felt some apprehension jest
meh action should be opposed by the
arge interest which it would affect.
"-Senator Tillman then offered to
ntroduce a resolution on the subject
f I would prepare one, a.nd I did t
prepare sneh a resolution, which was c
introduced by him and subsequently ui
adopted. During this interview I ex
ylained to him that it would be im
racticable to compel ~the corpora- se
ions claiming these lands to sell any
partieula.r part of them to any par
biular person; although, of course, f
f the government could establish a
Borfeiture of right under The grant, r
the lands might become afterwards c
pen to entry on the same terms as ol
ny other portion of the public do-e
nain. Of course, if it was at the
bime his prupose to secure some part s
>f sthe lands in question, thr'ough ar- m
rangement with Messrs. Reeder & ca
Watkins or otherw.ise, this forfeitura i
night .tend to promote his individual *
nterest: bat I had no reason to cred- sC
Lt him with any such purpose, and I PE
ealt with him thoroughout as asking V
the information and advice I could se
ive, only that he might fulfill his S,
nty as a public officer."'I
THE PUBLIC BENEFITED. D
Sewberry People Greatly Interested m
In the Generous Offer of Gilder
th
The people have -already demon
;tarted that they would rather trust a ar
nan who is naturally honest, than
mne who was honest only because hbe P~
iatobe
Gilder & Weeks have a firmly es
:ablished reputation for square deal- of
.ng and sterling honesty. When they or
:old the people that Rexall Remedies b3
are the purest and most dependable D<
remedies that it is possible for mod
arn science to produce, and that they (?
would tell the public exactly what
a.eh one of these 300 remedies con
Lained, and that they sold Rexall
[emedies on their own personal gaar- A
itee that they would give entire sat
sfato or the medicine would not
st the user a single cent, t&y were I
'lieved.
Ever sinee this announcement the
ore of Gilder & Weeks has been
-owded by people buying R,-xall
emedies; all of which proves that
ilder & Weeks have the confi&nee
the people and that honesty is th,e
at poty.
There is no "cure-all" among the
exal Remedies-there are 300 dif
rent and separte medicines; one
ir each human ill, and each unques
onably the best of its kind.
Rexall Dyspepsia Tablets are par
cularly recommended for the posi
ve cure of stomach irritation, indi
,stion and dyspepsia. They are rich
t Bismuth, Subnitraite Pepsin and
arminatives, and a>re prepared by a
>ecial process which perfects and
rhanees the great .curative value of
tese well-known medicinal agents.
his remedy sells for 25c. a package.
veryone suffering from a stomach
sorder should try Rexall Dyspepsia
ablets. inasmuch as they cost noth
g if they do not satisfy.
Gilder & Weeks are certainly for
nate in securing control of the'sale
these remedies, and we urge every
ie in need of medicine to investigate
id take advantage of their frank
id g2nerous offer.
A Night Rider's Raid.
The worst night riders are calomnel,
oton. oil or aloes pills. They raid M
ur bed to rob you -of rest. Not so
ith Dr. King's New Life Pills. =
ley never distress or inconvenience,
it always cleanse the system, cur
g Colds, Headache, Constipation,
alaria, 25c. at W. E. Pelham &
m's, Newberry, S. C.
AN ORDINANCE.
3ating to Street Duty in the Town
of Newberry, South Carolina.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor
Ld Aldermen of the Town of New
rry, South Carolina, in Council as
mbled, and by authority of the "
mie:
Section 1. 'That from and after the
.ssage of this ordinance all perQon-,r
tween the ages of eighteen aand fif
ye.ars in the Town of Newberry, ...
C., are hereby required to perform
c days labor during each yeas upon
e streets of the said town, under
e direction of the street overseer,
to pay Three Dollars to the Clerk
d Treasurer of the Town Coun'cil
the Town of Newberry each year'
lieu thereof, whieh shall hce due
d payable on or before the first
y of April, provided that a reeipt
fall of commetation !ax shall he
ued to any person who. shall pay
e same prior to the month of April:
-ovided, however, that nothing here
contained shall be so construed as
'exempt a.ny person who shall be- ...
me a resident of the Town of New
*rry, -at any time of any year, from C
rforming the labor or paying the
mmutation tax herein required. ""
See. 2. All persons violating the
ovisons of this ordinance by failing Fi
perform the said labor or pay said
mmutation tax in lieu thereof, shall, 0
on conviction thereof, be fined not ' F
re than five dollars or be impris
ed for not more than ten days or
ntenced to hard labor on the public
>rks of said Town; provided, that
e provisions of this ordinance shall -
t apply to persons holding a certi
~ate of physical disability from a
putable licensed physician, said
rtificate not to be over one year
i, and any person presenting such
rtificate shall make oath before
e said Clerk and Treasurer that
eh disability prevents him from
sking a livelihood at his usual avo
tion: nor to ministers of the gospel
actual eharge of a congregation,
aeher's employed in the public
ools, school trustees, and persons
rmanently disabled in military ser
ee of the State, a-ny person who
rved in the late war between the
ates, all persons actually employed
the quarantine service of the State,
d members of the Fiare De
rtment of the Town of Newberry;
-ovided, however, that only twenty
ambers of each company of the said
~patment shall be exempt under
e rrovisions of this section, and it
all be the duty of the secretary of
h company to file with the Clerk
d Treasurer of the said Council, a
t of all the members of his com
nv on or before the first day of
nuary of each year.
Sec. 3. That all ordinances or parts
ordinances, inconsistent with this
dinance be, and the same is here
, repealed.
me and ratified under the corporate
seal of the Town of Newber
~eal)ry, South Carolina, this the
sixth day of January. A. D.,
1909.
J. J. Langford,
test: Mayor. I
Eg. S. Werts,
Cit Clerk and Treasurer.
STATEf
The Commercial Bank of
densed from report to State
ber 27, 1908.
RESOUI
Loans................. ...
Furniture and fixtures.........
Overdrafts ............ ......
Cash and due from banks.....
LIABIT,
Capital stock.................
Profits less expenses taxes paid.
Dividends unpaid..........
Cashier's Checks............
Re-discounts.............
Deposits
Individual ...... ...........
Banks............ ....
The CoMM
NEWBERI
JNO. M. KINARD, 0. B. I
President. Vice-1
SPECIAL
ON AND
anua
..dM.Plai
WILL BE NEA
-:- FO
FISH and (
-:- ALU
F RE SH 1
~rders Taken.
We have bought out t
h business and will
sters in season. W
10ne orders. No. 26
L. -M. PLA
WE STOP T
'PHOI
lones &
CONTRACl
~LUMBING, TINNIN
~TEAM and HOT
REPAIR WORK
UNDR CR OT)
18 College St.
AENT.
Newberry, S. C., con
Bank Examiner Novem
LCES.
................$268,751 87
3,116 93
..... .. ....... 12,645 6o
......... ... .o 101,181 65
$385,696 05
rIES.
........... ..$50,000 00
............... - 54,677 53
... ............ 1,27700
................ , 25500
.......o... ..... 15,000 00
$261,000.03
-3,486.49-$264,486.52
$385,696 05
rcial Bank,
RY, S. C.
fAYER, J. Y. McFALL,
resident. Cashier.
NOTICE!
AFTER
ry 1st
er& Co,
DQU ARTERS
)YSTERS,
Quick. Delivery
he late Jas. F. Todd'
keep Fresh Fish an<
ill be pleased to fil
YER & CO.
HE LEAKS
9 27l
Gleason
EORS FOR
G and GUTTERINO
HATER HEATING
A SPECIALTY
N LL HOTEL
NEWBERRY. S. C
Newberrv
Hardware
componi
C
t0
CU'
ruim
00BER
HARDWAR
COM-NY